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For me, the answer to *buy* mostly ebooks versus *read* mostly ebooks are different. I still only buy print copies, partly for their physical presence and partly because you're only buying the license to the ebook, but I happily borrow a lot of ebooks from the library. If my library switched over to only ebooks I wouldn't have a problem with that, but I'd still want to buy any I loved in print form.

My answer was pro-paper book...but I also have and adore a Kindle. I see my bookshelves in my home as a curated reflection of my tastes...while the Kindle is great for miscellaneous titles, the occasional deal on something I want to try before adding to the paper collection, titles I have to have on my person at all times (I have three copies each of THE SCORPIO RACES and THE HUNGER GAMES--paper signed, paper unsigned, for reading, and Kindle, so I can open them up at a moment's notice), and for receiving e-galleys through sites like Netgalley. My hope is that lots of people will operate similarly. If that's the case, I can see e-readers becoming stiff competition for mass-market paperbacks in particular, but hopefully trade paperbacks and hardcovers will just be so nice to look at and touch that people will never be able to resist them. (For example, I was really glad I got Marie Lu's LEGEND in hardcover rather than as an e-book--that gold ink is so pretty!)

I haven't used my e-reader (Kindle) more than a few times in the past year. I love the feel, look, and smell of a bound book, and I don't see that changing significantly enough for me to switch to reading mostly e-books. But the market may demand that I switch, if bound books become hard to acquire.

I've tried checking e-books out from the library, but they make them so much less accessible than paper books -- lengthy holds, not enough notice when it becomes available, 1-2 week check-out times, and no ability to renew. That's going to have to get better.

I check out a lot of ebooks via our library-- love that. I do buy a lot of ebooks as well-- oftentimes they're cheaper. But you can't beat a good old fashioned spine n' paper book for cookbooks, reference books, photos, children's books.

I'm an "absolutely" with the caveat that I won't make the switch to mostly electronic until I can find books without DRM protection. If I BUY a book, I want to be able to do the same things with it that I would with a paper copy - loan it to friends indefinitely, trade it to a used book store for credit, sell it at a yard sale, etc. I don't like the current model of leasing books. The thought that my purchased content can be taken away from me if the content owner changes a line on a contract somewhere just leaves me cold.

The answer, for me, is "Maybe", but only because I can't read the future. Right now, I do not have a reader sort of device, and I have neither plans nor desire to get one. However, while I don't envision the death of the 'hard copy' book in my lifetime, I can envision a time where it's harder to get them, in which case, I may have no choice.

Right now, I buy the e-book version when I am unsure of the author or the book itself. Then, once I find out that I like the book and author, I buy the paper version for my home library. It the author is one I really like, I'll buy the paper version first.

I've certainly changed my mind about ebooks in the past few years. I went from looking down my nose at them, to being mildly curious, to having an ereader of my own (which I adore and use for most of my reading). I still like print books for certain things (cookbooks, reference, etc.), but most of the time I curl up with my Kobo rather than a paperback.

There are two many times when I like to flip back and forth, and it's very inconvenient to do that with an ebook. So no, I mostly won't buy ebooks. I say this even though my novel's only available (for free) in ebook form. But you're not asking if I'm logical.

My answer stays the same - the only way I will ever buy mostly e-books, or even buy e-books at all, will be is if it the absolute only way to get any books anymore or if it was the absolute only way to get the books I read. I suspect I won't live that many centuries :)

As it is now, I have yet to buy a single e-book and doubt I ever will. I have read some freebies via Kindle for PC/iPad and borrowed a small handful via Kindle lending, and that's about it.

For the past year, I've bought almost only e-books, with very few exceptions. I read mostly fiction, however I've bought non-fiction, including cookbooks, in e-book form. I can find anything so much faster on my e-reader! Plus, overall, they're cheaper.

Interesting to go back and look at my 2007 comment. But then, "never" means one to two years in digital time. In 2011 about a third of my reading was in ebook form. This year, I'd say about 80 percent has been electronic. The difference? The devices have become more interesting and I can read more for less money, although considering device price, only barely, at least in the year when I buy a reader. I still love paper books, but I find my reader to be easier on my eyes, totally the opposite of what I expected back in the dark ages of aught-seven. The biggest drawback is that every book feels the same. I miss the tactile thrill of switching to a new book.

I still really like print books because many of those I buy I like to give away on my blog. And I like the idea that the person who gets it can pass it on as well. I don't think e-books can be given away as freely yet.

I love e-books. As someone with allergies, I have always found the smell of books to make me uncomfortable and feel a little tickle-nosed. The only thing I miss is being able to flip around the pages of a book if I'm looking for a particular spot; it isn't quite the same when doing that on an e-reader.

I have vision problems and it makes me light sensitive. It creates more strain on my eyes to read on screen then it does on paper. The glare from the light makes the words more blurry even with glasses with special tints. I think I'm going to be left behind in the reading stakes. There are already books I'd love to read but they are in electronic format only. I'll probably pick up a reader to use for professional reading but it would not be smart of me to use it for leisure.

I continue to have a difficult time finding the same connection to ebooks that I have when holding a printed copy of the book. When given a choice, and a similar price, I continue to choose bound books.

Nathan, I've been a follower since '07 and actually remember the first time you've done the survey ... I just rummaged through all the past years and enjoyed the trend shift ... I still maintain "I have no idea" but love this survey ... On a side note, still love your blog, get it via email and read it most days ... You've taught me more than any other agent/author ... I've had one novel published, your advice certainly helped ... I write for magazines about "People & Horses Helping Horses & People" and have a blog of my own ... Please know it was your encouraging words 5 years ago that kept me in the saddle! You are a good man!~Dutch Henry.

I use my Kobo because I like being able to change the font size for my aging eyes - and I love to read great thick books that are hard to hold when dozing before bed. I have Mark Twain's biography and have not yet read it as it is a huge thing - it's nice when you can hold the book daily, even with MS and etc.Mind you, I NEVER pass up a good used book store!

I'm at a point where if I'm buying a book, it's an ebook unless it's a graphic novel. However, I do still read a lot of normal books these days, because I borrow more books from the library than I actually purchase. I'm pretty comfortable iwth both.

There's one thing I miss about paper books though--being about to snoop on other people on the metro in the morning to see what everyone else is reading!

There are only 2 reasons I buy a paper book anymore: If it's a cookbook or similar reference book, or if I know I'm likely to run into the author and want them to sign a copy. The rest of the time? Ebooks all the way. I don't have enough storage space for all the books I read otherwise.

We moved from a 3 bedroom split level to a smaller 3 bedroom single floor to a 2 bedroom apartment all in less then 6 months. I HAD to get rid of books and we picked up a Nook so I could replace some of the ones I got rid of and could still have new books to read. I'd still prefer to have a huge library of paperbacks, but have to admit, the first thing I grab to read at night? The Nook. And no, it's not the one with the light, and yes, I do have a small stack of hard copies by the bed waiting to be read. lol

I'm almost entirely ebooked now, but that's because my husband is military, which forces us to move a lot. We just donated over 300 books, and we still have three bookcases full. We're slowly culling all of our things that can be moved to digital media (CDs, DVDs, books) just because, now that we have kids, we need the space for their toys, not ours. I'll wait for the books I've loved most and will reread over and over to come to B&N's bargain prices, and I have quite a few of the leather editions. But for a book I'll only read the once, either because I didn't like it or it just isn't something loved enough to go back to, there's no reason for me to have a paper copy. I'm also really careful about having paper around now anyway after our apartment was flooded out three springs in a row and destroyed too much of our stuff. Ebooks don't get flooded out.

I'm almost entirely ebooked now, but that's because my husband is military, which forces us to move a lot. We just donated over 300 books, and we still have three bookcases full. We're slowly culling all of our things that can be moved to digital media (CDs, DVDs, books) just because, now that we have kids, we need the space for their toys, not ours. I'll wait for the books I've loved most and will reread over and over to come to B&N's bargain prices, and I have quite a few of the leather editions. But for a book I'll only read the once, either because I didn't like it or it just isn't something loved enough to go back to, there's no reason for me to have a paper copy. I'm also really careful about having paper around now anyway after our apartment was flooded out three springs in a row and destroyed too much of our stuff. Ebooks don't get flooded out.

Because we've moved a number of times in the 16 years we've been together, during our last move hubby threatened to leave my boxes of books behind because he was tired of moving them. He told me I could buy even more books than usual without complaining even once if I bought them for my e-reader & he didn't have to move them anymore.

Heaven forbid the Apocalypse comes and I haven't bought a solar charger for my Kindle. Most everything I buy is ebook, unless the paper is full of color illustrations, less expensive, or somehow compelling in print. Why? I'll be retiring soon and only the best books of my thousands will be kept, because downsizing is in my near future. Because I can read a huge novel and not irritate my carpal tunnel or get too fatigued to read it in bed. Because I can carry them all with me all the time. Because a Kindle leaves one hand free for lunch or petting chihuahuas. I have hundreds of Kindle titles now, and I'm not stopping any time soon. Both have their place, but Kindle is here to stay.

I don´t have an ebook reader so I don´t really know if I´ll like ebooks at all. Then there´s the problem of me spending a lot of time in places where paper books still rule without questions. Wouldn´t bring my Kindle into the pool or on the beach. It wouldn´t do too well in a hot sauna or a tub either. That doesn´t mean I wouldn´t like a Kindle, it just means I quite like both kinds of books.

I own a first gen Kindle. I purchase somewhere between 250-300 fiction ebooks a year. The only books that I buy in hardcopy are reference books...I'm still old school when it comes to my guides and reference material.

But I just don't see the need to keep an entire forest of fiction sitting around in my house.

Because I am visually impaired, I read only e-books - as they are the only ones that I CAN read (long live large font sizes!). Yes, I know you can get the odd book in large print, but they do not tend to be my kind of books, and mean traveling a long way to get. I agree with all those saying that the DRM needs to come off; I bought a non-fiction book via my son's kindle (my own had a fault at the time) and now find I cannot transfer that title to my own...

I mostly read ebooks but still also have many paper books. Ebooks are much easier for me to read, especially on public transport and aeroplanes, and deal with because I travel a lot and don't currently live in the same country as most of my books.

I buy mostly ebooks now to avoid adding mediocre titles to my already huge collection of paper books. If I read an ebook and choose to add it to my library to re-read and have on hand for my children, I'll buy a nice hardcover.

I still buy paper books but this year I bought a new Kindle Touch and I have to admit most of the books I buy now are for my Kindle.I still buy paper books because I read constantly and have a fear of my Kindle not working and all of my beloved books disappearing,therefore I find myself buying both versions if I really love the story.I now have my original Sony E-Reader,my new Kindle and hard copies of my favorite books because I not a trusting soul and can't go even one day without reading:)

I think at this point I'm buying mostly e-books. With a new baby, it's easier to shop on my kindle then get to a bookstore, and it took me a while but I'm beginning to like my kindle. (Of course, the lack of physical space to keep books I already own could have something to do with this).

I already do. I bought software to remove the DRM from my kindle books, use Baen a lot, as all the books they sell are DRM free ePub eBooks, and use Calibre to convert them to mobi.

I made the switch due to failing eyesight rather than any love of an ebook format. Part of what I don't like is the fact I am made to feel like a criminal for wanting DRM free books. That They Know all I want to do is download pirated copies, and upload the ripped books to sharing sites. That I cannot trade my used book back. That I cannot share.

Amazon now have a lending library if you subscribe to Amazon Prime. Am considering it.

One thing about moving to eBooks is all I have on my bookshelves now are my Pratchett (could not get rid of those!), some cookbooks that my Daughter will not get rid of, maps. And coffee table books, cos the impact of a photograph is lost on a 6" screen!

Love the site - came here via the poll (though I missed voting this year)

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